Knitters have warm feeling for winter project

November 17, 2006|D.L. PERRIN Tribune Correspondent

The women sit with heads bowed, chuckling and chatting around a table piled high with colorful yarn and numerous looms. It's a sunny fall day. Sunbeams bounce off the rainbow of colors, forming long strands off the end of knitting needles that click together in a pleasant rhythm. These women drive to the center on Michigan 60 from Dowagiac, Niles, Marcellus, Edwardsburg and Cassopolis to volunteer at the Cass County Council on Aging. The next couple of weeks they will be knitting up a storm to build up a supply of winter outerwear -- knitted hats, mittens and scarves -- for the children of Cass county. "I enjoy coming to the center because I like to keep busy," explained Courtney Baker, of Dowagiac. "I don't know how to knit, but they offered to teach me and I am always willing to learn new things." Across the table from Baker, a woman was being coached on the circular loom, which makes simple knitted caps. "I have knitted for many years," said Lucille Thomas, of Edwardsburg. "But I have not been that busy lately and I have all of this scrap yarn around. I want to put it to good use. "They have an easy pattern for mittens and I can't wait to try it. I first learned to knit at the beginning of World War II, so that will give you an idea of how long I have been knitting." Mary Nelson, from Cassopolis, likes using the circular loom to make the caps and scarves. "I knitted boas for all of my daughters last year," she said. "This Christmas I am making them something a bit different, but I know they will like it because I am using some really fun yarn." Brenda Harris is the assistant leisure enrichment coordinator, and she manages the fitness center. "We have so many talented members," she said. "I knew if I started a class doing something many of them are very good at, they would join in and make this a successful project. "We plan on having everything done by December 22 to give away for Christmas to those children that need some warm winter outerwear." The knitters meet from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. If you can't knit but have some knitting needles and new or scrap yarn, the group is looking for donations. If you knit or would like to learn to knit while donating your time and effort, call Brenda Harris at (269) 445-8110, or (800) 323-0390.